Kayaks for big guys. Most stable fishing kayaks.

[@RogerFordTheSmilingBassHole]

Great breakdown! My first kayak was a Perception Striker. The Outlaw took the place of the Striker. My fishing buddy (also a big guy and also a Perception owner) said if the Outlaw had been his first kayak, he'd probably still be in it! Looks like a great value. Thanks! Roger, The Smiling BassHole

[@StonedDead1981]

I'm going to get a Nucanoe this next year. Wanted one for a bit now. Don't use a lot of electronics, but the rails everywhere mean I can make all sorts of DIY accessories and mount them anywhere. My current kayak is DIY from a 11' foam sailboat hull. Made a drop in keel, folding fixed rudder, and added steel rails to each side. It will never sink, but it tracks like crap without the keel and rudder, and can't go into super shallow water with them.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Great kayak

[@GatewoodBrown]

Excellent info, thanks TBP! So cool to see all these amazing kayaks that are so capable. Makes it hard to choose!

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Nice channel you have. I have subscribed!

[@GatewoodBrown]

@@thebeardedpaddler Thank you! REally been enjoying your perspective on all of the new kayaks. That LL Kiawah looks compelling too!

[@thebeardedpaddler]

It's been one of my favorite creek/River recreational floaters

[@GatewoodBrown]

@@thebeardedpaddler love to hear that. I’ve been wanting a lighter weight sit on top that’s more throw and go than the heavier fishing kayaks and the kiawah seems to be exactly that. I think you have the only review video about it on KZbin!

[@thebeardedpaddler]

@@GatewoodBrown both of them have a lot of rocker to them and some width and stability built into the hull. Great all around kayak

[@ryanhemming9546]

I have a Ss127 with a Bixby trolling motor. 6'5" 250lbs. I really like it. Seat is comfortable. It's relatively simple to paddle. Narrower than the other Big guy boats. Stability is amazing. I've stood up to fish a few times but for the most part the seat is high enough that I don't need to.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

It's also one of the most customizable kayaks as well. Same people do YakAttack that make Bonafide kayaks. I've seen some crazy setups

[@ryanhemming9546]

@The Bearded Paddler I like that it's made in USA too. 🇺🇸

[@thebeardedpaddler]

@@ryanhemming9546 100%

[@billmartin694]

I have a OLDTOWN SPORTSMAN 106 and i mounted a minn kota off my dual rod holder mounts and my marine battery in a milk crate. I can do about 3 knots for 7 hours. Lake erie off buffalo n.y. makes for a fantastic day. And this year im buying a duplicate and i will have a fishing catamyak.

[@rodneyrobinson6116]

Love your content and your professional opinion on kayaks, most stores just want to sell them whether or not there a good kayak for that person , please keep the videos coming

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Will do. Thank you so much for watching! Also, thank you for the feedback!

[@MysticalDragon73]

That is one reason that I like and follow the bearded paddler. The sincerity is evident. I wish more owners/managers had his mentality.

[@MysticalDragon73]

Nice video to see various boats, especially your number one as I've not had a chance to look at those boats much. Yes I was disappointed by the sound quality being lower than your other videos. Overall some good selections. The recons high seating position can hurt its stability due to its higher center of gravity. The Jackson bite is underrated for sure. A true 400lbs capacity with a stable, yet maneuverable boat is great. Its a solid simple boat. Yes our needs through the years change and adapt. Its why I'm at 6 boats atm as each one is for a different purpose However your #2 with bonafides fell flat. Bonafides are NOT good for bigger paddlers, especially for fishing and even moreso when wanting to mount a motor as that motor and battery will use up most of your remaining capacity. When I think of bigger paddlers, I'm thinking someone at least 250lbs, if not 275 to 300lbs. Bonafide's "capacity" ratings ARE NOT actual usable capacity since bonafide forces you to subtract the boat weight from that capacity rating. The ss107 weighs 84lbs with the seat giving you an actual capacity of 341lbs. The SS127 weighs 94lbs so it gives you a usable capacity of 381lbs based on bonafides numbers. Many have rated the ss127 at even less than that. There are so many asterisks to trip people up its absurd. The average buyer often wont see this. Also I have a 46" waist and the SS127 seat is far too narrow and hurts as im sitting on the narrow frame. Adding a seat cushion is a must. There are features of the bonafides that are good. I love the hatch on the 127 being able to open from either direction. Its got great primary stability, and tracks well when using vertical strokes. However the deception on their marketing and low capacities overshadow it. I was disappointed in the coosa X not on the list or mentioned. I got mine on the water for the first time today. I was very pleased with its handling both in current and flatwater. For the flatwater, I moved the seat forward to improve its tracking. Moving the seat back the boat spun on a dime yet still had acceptable tracking. It did get blown by the wind some, especially when on flatwater. It makes sense since its a river runner. Best of of all it has a true 425lbs capacity, though its been shown loaded to 525 lbs and it still handled well. The high low seat was simple to use and comfortable.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

The Coosa X definitely could be on the list and really anything Jackson makes could be. I just wanted to represent some other brands with it

[@MysticalDragon73]

@@thebeardedpaddler nothing wrong with looking at other brands. Yes I like my Jacksons and have never been let down yet. But each time Im looking for a new boat i explore all options. Its why I like watching your channel so see other brands I might not have seen or considered before. However, when making a top 5 list such as this, it wouldn't be prudent to leave a jackson off the list. maybe if it was a top 5 non jackson big guy fishing kayaks then I would agree. Sadly though with bonafides low and misleading capacity rating, one is still hard pressed to include the on such a list. I certainly liked some features of the SS127, especially the dual opening hatch, but the drawbacks with capacity take too much away. I just sold my SS127 and down to 5 jacksons now.

[@FishingWithCotton]

I sent this video to my buddy he is at the tipping point of getting one.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Thanks for watching! Which one is he looking at?

[@mikedinardo5995]

You have great informational content.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Thank you so much for your feedback and for watching! More on the way!

[@mikedinardo5995]

I’ve watched most of the videos and subscribed. You have one of the top kayak pages, thank you.

[@austinrupard9073]

I am a truly big guy at 6'7" 450 lbs. I almost obviously bought an Unlimited.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Its a good one for you. If you are not going to put on a motor or electronics then you will like the Frontier 12 just as well. Thank you for watching

[@austinrupard9073]

@@thebeardedpaddler Of course. I ended up going with the EPS on mine. Love it! In the Galveston Bay I have to travel too far to be paddling only so the motor was a must.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

@@austinrupard9073 It the perfect platform for it too

[@ernestovalentin6597]

Great info, thanks. Did you ever get to make that review on th Recon 120? Looking for an honest opinion that thanks.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Haven't had one in awhile to do a video on. Very stable platform with a great seat. Really needs to be updated in my opinion.

[@fisherman300028]

What do you think of the ATAK 120 for payload? It seems like a large kayak for such a low capacity

[@thebeardedpaddler]

I'm not the biggest fan of the ATAK. The Recon is better for lake and the Radar is better for river in the Wilderness lineup. Wilderness seems to have lost the focus on fishing lately and gone all in on recreational

[@suesturges6022]

We are seniors. Want high swivel seat, not an inflatable, electric motor. Will want to put on long outriggers. Do you have something like that? We live in Iowa. Would you suggest a store near us? May end up buying 3 set ups. Opinion please. Nov 14, 2023 Thank you.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Swivel seat will be the Nucanoe Unlimited, Nucanoe Frontier, and the Native Titan X. If you are wanting to motorize, then you will probably prefer the Nucanoe Unlimited

[@jeremydrouin9975]

Enjoyed the video. Do kayaks generally have a greater weight capacity with scupper plugs inserted or is it just part of the Nucanoe design?

[@thebeardedpaddler]

They generally do. Nucanoe tested them out with them in and out. The hull design takes advantage of it as well

[@MysticalDragon73]

I've seen several manufacturers that do that. However the concern is if you are having to put scupper plugs in to increase capacity, it is no longer self bailing. If you take any water into the boat, you must bail it immediately. This extra weight from the water could now take an already heavily loaded boat, over its capacity and become dangerous. The explanation in the video about using the scupper plugs when using a motor does make sense and I can understand using them for that reason. But for increasing capacity and then using most to all of that extra capacity is a concern and IMO not a safe practice.

[@GpXj13]

What all comes with the Frontier 12' when you purchase it?

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Scupper plugs, seat, and kayak.

[@Ayamkita909]

❤🎉

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Thank you for watching

[@Chris-zm7wh]

Ok I'll say it if he didn't NATIVE WATERCRAFT TITAN anything or slayer 12.5

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Should have done a top 10 honestly

[@zackmorehouse]

What about the RS117 vs the bite vs a flint?

[@thebeardedpaddler]

RS117 and the Flint are comparable. The Flint is a little quicker. The Bite is wider and more stable but a little slower. They are all really good. The seat on the Bite is probably the best.

[@Larry77777]

The way I see it, "big guy" kayaks are seldom paddled, so a motor on the front or back seems preferable to peddles in the cockpit. If I were a rich guy big guy (and I'm not), I'd opt for a torqeedo.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

You would be surprised how many are paddled. On lakes you are never too far away from where you want to fish. Personally, I have the MotorGuide Xi3 with spotlock.

[@MysticalDragon73]

I'm one with 3 of those "big guy" kayaks. I dont have a motor and dont expect one in the foreseeable future. I paddle my boats, even my big rig with 250-300lbs of gear plus me.

[@Larry77777]

@@MysticalDragon73 I've always paddled; never had a motor.